TAPT Registration Deadline extended: The 20th Teens Are People Too retreat is shaping up to be another great one! One o the best parts of diocesan events like these is the chance for your ministry’s teens to meet others who share their faith that they might otherwise never get a chance to meet. Nearly 25 parishes/ministries are represented from all across Northwest Indiana, from Gary to La Porte, Hammond to Lowell, Highland to Portage, Valparaiso to Crown Point, you get the idea! Because our website was down last week—causing some registration anxiety for many!—I have extended the standard fee deadline to this Wednesday, Feb. 27. I will accept signups after that, but the price climbs $10. Money isn’t due until TAPT, but the amount they’ll owe depends on when they sign up. Remember, unlike CYX where teens are required to register with an adult-led group, teens may register individually for TAPT. Have them visit www.garytapt.com and the website will walk them through the details.

TAPT Reunion Mass: Youth Leaders and former TAPTsters are invited to attend the closing Mass of TAPT XX, known as the "Reunion Mass," Sunday, March 9th at appr. 12:15. For former TAPTsters it’s a chance to show this year’s group of TAPTsters that they support them in their faith journey. Hundreds of youth and adult youth leaders have gone before these TAPTsters in the 20-year history of the retreat, and we’re hopeful that many will come out as a visible link to past, present, and future! For youth leaders with teens attending, it’s a chance to show your support for them and to show them that you are ready to join them in mission when they return to your local community! Mass celebrant is TAPT Chaplain Fr. Ian Williams. No RSVP is necessary. Please plan to arrive a little early to allow enough time to arrange for seating, host counting, etc. Come as early as 11:30 to enjoy social time with current and former TAPTsters.

That pilgrim spirit! While registration details for the 2008 Catholic Youth Xperience will not be sent until late March or early April, many of you are already discerning whether or not you’ll send a group, and many of you have had July 18-20 on your calendars for months! If you plan to go, it’s not too early to start getting your group ready! As you by now know, we want your group to not only attend CYX, we want them to truly feel that they have journeyed to Sydney, Australia to celebrate World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI! You can help bring some of that pilgrim spirit into your group by using some of the resources at the official World Youth Day website: wyd2008.org . I recommend the monthly "E-Pilgrimage" feature. Colorful newsletters that include tidbits written for groups making the trip, including prayers you can use in your groups. Click "Pilgrims and Registration" link on left at the site.

Free Colts DVD: The community relations department of the Indianapolis Colts has free copies of a DVD featuring head coach Tony Dungy and several players discussing how their faith impacts their football careers. A limited number of complimentary copies of "Faith & Football" are available to churches and non-profit organizations. The order form is available on the Colts Web site: colts.com/faithandfootball .

Top 10 issues: Kudos to the folks at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Hammond for creativity! In 2005 the Diocesan Youth Council participated in a thorough group consensus process that resulted in the "Top 10 Issues Facing HS Youth" that remains posted on the DYC website. Bob Meaney, the DRE at OLPH, took the list and developed a four night Lenten series to process the topics addressed in the list. Best wishes to the ministry as they explore these issues!